Najib, the de facto opposition leader?

Kamles Kumar Kamles Kumar Updated 5 years ago · Published on 24 Nov 2018 11:00AM · 8 Comments

Former prime minister Najib Razak seems to have become the de factor opposition leader after other opposition figureheads have failed to step up. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 24, 2018.

FROM prime minister to now de facto opposition leader, that’s the role Najib Razak has inadvertently taken as he leads the attack against the new Pakatan Harapan government and its policies.

But Najib is not the opposition leader, nor is he holding any position in Umno, the party which leads the opposition bloc.

In the absence of current Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Najib has emerged as a voice of the opposition, schooling the new government on various matters from economic policies to trolling them with mundane rhetoric.

This is despite the former Umno president being slapped with 38 criminal charges in relation to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.

Ilham Centre executive director Mohd Azlan Zainal said Najib is playing a prominent role now as the other opposition leaders are more focused on playing up issues of race and religion.

“The Umno leadership seem keen to face religious and race issues compared to Najib who is now being seen as the person who questions Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) economic policies,” Azlan told The Malaysian Insight.

That role should be played by Zahid, but since he is seen as being non-commital, this gives room to Najib to play de facto opposition leader, said Azlan.

“Zahid has not played his part as the new Umno president. Maybe with the charges against him, he has lost focus,” he said.

Najib Razak has filled the leadership void left by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who seems to be distracted with the dozens of graft charges against him. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 24, 2018.

Zahid last month claimed trial to 45 counts of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money-laundering involving RM114.15 million.

As for Najib, Azlan said, he is going with the “offence is the best defence” policy to sway back the support of Malaysians, despite the charges against him.

Najib has trained his guns on several PH ministers, including Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng who he sees as his sparring buddy.

Among the other ministers, the Pekan MP likes to take potshots at is Education Minister Maszlee Malik and Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad.

Najib recently poked fun at Maszlee for suggesting to hotels to make their pools available for swimming lessons.

He also went after Khalid for coming up with the idea of Harapan Coin, which he thought was not feasible and ridiculed the Amanah lawmaker for not knowing the Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) was unmanned.

“Najib’s act of criticising the policies of PH is a distraction to divert the issues that involve him,” said Azlan.

“He is also pressuring Lim not to blame him and his previous administration.

“For Najib at the moment, offence is the best defence.”

For Najib Razak, offence seems to be the best defence as he seeks to distract the public from the dozens of corruption charges against him by ridiculing the new government and its policies. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 24, 2018.

Najib has been sidelined by the mainstream media after Barisan Nasional was defeated at the 14th general election. But that has not stopped the former prime minister from speaking out, using the social media platform.

Among the government issues he has been vocal against include FundMyHome, plans to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the missing goods and services tax (GST) refunds.

Najib had also raised issues like supplementary milk for schools, the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans, issues surrounding palm oil and criticised Budget 2019 for not looking after those in the B40 group.

He had also spoken out against cancelling megaprojects and how PH has not lived up to its election manifesto.

“Let me say this, their true intention was just to lie to the people without any intention to fulfil their promises.

“It is like when a guy wants to marry a woman, he promises everything, including the moon and stars, but after marriage, he gives nothing, not even dust,” Najib had said. – November 24, 2018.

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Comments

  • A tainted de facto opposition leader? Surely the Opposition can do better than this?

    Posted 5 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • He is a empty pot Belly taking potshots what more can he do knowing he will be spending the rest of his life in Prison.

    Posted 5 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply

  • I hope opposition MPs are not stupid and blind to choose a dumb, easily duped joker as their leader

    Posted 5 years ago by Wen Chiuan Woo · Reply

  • Zahid is just a ball carrier with no ball except like the useless Hadi, they can only play the dirty race and religious game.

    Posted 5 years ago by Jackal Way · Reply

  • What for .?? How long?? What credibility ??. Who listen ?? Where is your end destination ??? . Lanun place is in jail where you belong. Nothing works when you are out of your supposed and ultimate zone---- JAIL or GALLOWS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • najib can say whatever he wants...as far as i care, he has lost ALL credibility...so thank God for May 9th.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply

  • Jibby, PH just want to get rid off you. Whatever they promised, it doesnt matter anymore. Now they have the power, so PH can do more than what they promised. But most importantly, youre gone hahaha...

    Posted 5 years ago by Leng Kapri As Saribasi · Reply

  • Well despite Najib's acts of corruption, I must admit we do need a solid opposition. Someone needs to step up to start pushing PH on its promises. I would like to see someone of a high standing in UMNO e.g. Tengku Razaleigh or maybe even Datuk Johari the former second finance minister, step up to question PH on its policies instead of just letting Najib do it. Worse still the opposition leader i.e. Datuk Zahid, nowhere to be seen. Just sad.

    Posted 5 years ago by Kishenjeet Dhillon · Reply